How is the bidding system doing? Any comments?

[thehowlingroad]

On 11/22/2022 at 9:50 PM, thehowlingroad said:

I placed 5 test bids on our upcoming Discovery cruise next month, just to see what would happen. 4 of the 5 were rejected an hour after I placed them, but the premium deluxe balcony bid is still pending. $200 total, but there's 3 of us in an interior room, so any kind of upgrade would be worth it, tbh.

 

My bid was accepted this morning. We moved to an aft cabin on the Discovery; E731. I'm a little concerned about noise from Vista Lounge in the late evenings, but given it's only a 5-day cruise, I think we'll be okay.

[azbirdmom]

How long does it take from the time that they assign the upgraded cabin to them sending the invoice?  I ask because I got a flurry of bid declination emails this afternoon and when I went to the bid website I saw only one was still pending.  Sure enough when I checked the cruise personalizer I saw that we had been assigned a cabin in that upgrade category already and it's a PH suite so the bill won't be trivial (although it was a one barely in the lowest category).

 

To possibly add complication, it's for a cruise in 8 days and involves a comped casino cabin.  It's been about 5 hours since I noticed the new cabin assignment, I just don't know if it's normal for it to take a while for them to send the actual bill for the upgrade or if there might be a problem brewing.  I already know that the bill will include the increased cost of Princess Vacation Protection.  Hope this is all normal (if there is such a thing at Princess these days).

[crowbarman]

2 hours ago, azbirdmom said:

How long does it take from the time that they assign the upgraded cabin to them sending the invoice?  I ask because I got a flurry of bid declination emails this afternoon and when I went to the bid website I saw only one was still pending.  Sure enough when I checked the cruise personalizer I saw that we had been assigned a cabin in that upgrade category already and it's a PH suite so the bill won't be trivial (although it was a one barely in the lowest category).

 

To possibly add complication, it's for a cruise in 8 days and involves a comped casino cabin.  It's been about 5 hours since I noticed the new cabin assignment, I just don't know if it's normal for it to take a while for them to send the actual bill for the upgrade or if there might be a problem brewing.  I already know that the bill will include the increased cost of Princess Vacation Protection.  Hope this is all normal (if there is such a thing at Princess these days).

In my case I went to the Payments section on the web and saw the amount due immediately. 

[HBCcruiser]

2 hours ago, azbirdmom said:

How long does it take from the time that they assign the upgraded cabin to them sending the invoice?  I ask because I got a flurry of bid declination emails this afternoon and when I went to the bid website I saw only one was still pending.  Sure enough when I checked the cruise personalizer I saw that we had been assigned a cabin in that upgrade category already and it's a PH suite so the bill won't be trivial (although it was a one barely in the lowest category).

 

To possibly add complication, it's for a cruise in 8 days and involves a comped casino cabin.  It's been about 5 hours since I noticed the new cabin assignment, I just don't know if it's normal for it to take a while for them to send the actual bill for the upgrade or if there might be a problem brewing.  I already know that the bill will include the increased cost of Princess Vacation Protection.  Hope this is all normal (if there is such a thing at Princess these days).

Log into your account. Under your cruise account go to Payments. It will show that you owe the difference. Congrats on your suite! 

[caribill]

4 hours ago, HBCcruiser said:

Log into your account. Under your cruise account go to Payments. It will show that you owe the difference.

 

Is that only for those who booked with Princess or can those who booked with a TA also use this method.

 

Normally if one uses a TA, no payment info is available on the Princess web site.

[HBCcruiser]

3 hours ago, caribill said:

 

Is that only for those who booked with Princess or can those who booked with a TA also use this method.

 

Normally if one uses a TA, no payment info is available on the Princess web site.

I used a TA and this is what I did to pay. Your TA gets notified of the upgrade and may call you to make sure you are good with the upgrade. That’s what mine did.

[wrongwaywatson]

On 11/18/2022 at 8:30 AM, bobrxlex said:

I got upgraded from midship (BW E417) emerald deck on sky to mini suite (MC E217) emerald deck. Now I'm worried that it will be too noisy above the theater.  I paid total of $510 for the upgrade and now I'm not sure it was worth it.  Has anyone been above the theater on emerald deck and how bad was it.   Be careful bidding for upgrade because of location change

We cruised over it once.  You could hear music until about 10:15-10:30pm, after that, it was super quiet.  We didn't mind at all.  Even at 10pm, it wasn't loud enough to bother us at all.  But, it is quiet after 10:30pm and no one is in there early morning, either.

[wrongwaywatson]

On 11/22/2022 at 9:49 AM, PRINCESS Sweet Pea said:

For us, the reason we have not made a bid, even thought it is cheap, is that you can be given a room anywhere on the ship.   It can be far forward, it can have noise, that kind of thing.

For us, this sailing is like only half full.   So, we decided to wait until boarding so that we can chosse one of the few cabins that we would really want to move to.  We would have re-booked to get the cabin at the current price,  but that wasn't going to be possible.   A whole 'nother problem!

 

Princess just won't let two passengers book and choose a deluxe balcony.   And that is a huge problem.  That is just not right.   If we had wanted a wake view cabin, Princess will not let us get one.  Even though when we booked, they all were available.   So, getting one at boarding, since half of them are still available right now, would be the only real option.   I have NO respect left for Princess.

 

 

We have had a deluxe balcony with two of us?  I'm not sure why you were told that.   

Edited December 2, 2022 by wrongwaywatson

[azbirdmom]

9 hours ago, crowbarman said:

In my case I went to the Payments section on the web and saw the amount due immediately. 

 

2 hours ago, HBCcruiser said:

I used a TA and this is what I did to pay. Your TA gets notified of the upgrade and may call you to make sure you are good with the upgrade. That’s what mine did.

Thanks for the responses. See screenshot below. There  is no option to make a payment and I still don’t have an invoice but my PH suite is still there. Time for a call to casino reservations. Wish I could call my TA but unfortunately I couldn’t book this through her. Fingers crossed that I get someone in Arizona and not the new offshore office!

 

 

[HBCcruiser]

54 minutes ago, azbirdmom said:

casino reservations.

This could be why. You need to go through them. 

[azbirdmom]

2 minutes ago, HBCcruiser said:

This could be why. You need to go through them. 

 

Just called.  They see the full suite on our reservation and say nothing is due.  Sigh.  Will check back later today if I get an invoice.  These casino reservations seem to cancel if you look at them wrong LOL.

 

Julie

[HBCcruiser]

1 minute ago, azbirdmom said:

 

Just called.  They see the full suite on our reservation and say nothing is due.  Sigh.  Will check back later today if I get an invoice.  These casino reservations seem to cancel if you look at them wrong LOL.

 

Julie

UGH! I hope you can resolve this and enjoy that suite! Keep us updated if you can. 

[tcdcruiser]

First bid. Won

 

Bid from a balcony BB category ($3600) to a Club Class Mini Suite M1.  
 

This is a 10 day SF Mexican Cruise. Accepted bid was $790.  

[Shelly97060]

11 hours ago, caribill said:

 

Is that only for those who booked with Princess or can those who booked with a TA also use this method.

 

Normally if one uses a TA, no payment info is available on the Princess web site.

When the notices that you are eligible and that your bid is successful they are sent to you and your TA is copied.  Payment can then be made directly by you through Cruise Personalizer, through your TA or by calling Princess.

[Shelly97060]

4 hours ago, azbirdmom said:

 

Just called.  They see the full suite on our reservation and say nothing is due.  Sigh.  Will check back later today if I get an invoice.  These casino reservations seem to cancel if you look at them wrong LOL.

 

Julie

Yes, call the Casino desk and make the payment that is due for the upgrade ( and the increase cost of insurance if you have that). 

[azbirdmom]

1 minute ago, Shelly97060 said:

Yes, call the Casino desk and make the payment that is due for the upgrade ( and the increase cost of insurance if you have that). 

 

I tried earlier today.  They said nothing was due other than the amount that the casino owes.  I still don't have an invoice and it's been a full day since my cabin got upgraded.  By the way the bid upgrade site still shows this particular bid as "pending", the rest are "expired".  Maybe they are behind on getting invoices out but it seems like the invoice should have been sent when the cabin was assigned.

[jangor]

We booked late and had to accept a guaranteed cabin.  I was unhappy with the location and bid on an upgrade.  I bid $20 over the suggested bid.  Two days ago, I was told my bid was not accepted.  Today, I got the e-mail congratulating me on my successful bid.  Paid the bid and am happy with the result.

 

[witchegirl]

My friend and I are on the 16-day Antarctica cruise leaving from Santiago on the 19th. Our bid was just accepted. We went from an inside to a standard balcony. So happy! Additional $500 each. Feel like we won the lottery lol. Merry Christmas to us! 

[kiwimum]

17 minutes ago, witchegirl said:

My friend and I are on the 16-day Antarctica cruise leaving from Santiago on the 19th. Our bid was just accepted. We went from an inside to a standard balcony. So happy! Additional $500 each. Feel like we won the lottery lol. Merry Christmas to us! 

We are on the same cruise and went from obstructed (not really) to D741 aft balcony for $500.   Not sure about location.  Steward let me have a look as we are on now.  

Any comments on D741, B4 Premium Balcony

[kiwimum]

On 11/25/2022 at 7:08 AM, Cruise Raider said:

They are premium cabins on the Ruby.  The Royal class are the only ships that have the deluxe balcony cabins, as well as premium deluxe balconies, indicating there is a small sofa in the cabin.  
I am typing this from an aft facing premium balcony on the Ruby at this very moment … no couch but the most fantastic balcony!  

How is the noise/vibration.   We have been assigned this cabin for Santiago to Antarctica on the Sapphire.

[Cruise Raider]

17 minutes ago, kiwimum said:

How is the noise/vibration.   We have been assigned this cabin for Santiago to Antarctica on the Sapphire.

 

So, if you like white noise (which we do) you will love the cabin.  You may have to turn up the TV to hear it but I don't think we turned it on once during the cruise.  There was a bit of a vibration, but we also didn't mind that as the seas were very calm.  

[kiwimum]

4 minutes ago, Cruise Raider said:

 

So, if you like white noise (which we do) you will love the cabin.  You may have to turn up the TV to hear it but I don't think we turned it on once during the cruise.  There was a bit of a vibration, but we also didn't mind that as the seas were very calm.  

Thanks for the quick response.   I took a look at the cabin, but dark at the moment but with the overhang we may be thankful during the trip.   
 

[FLAlaska]

Quick question which has probably been asked before but I searched and couldn't find anything. Im booked as a solo in a club mini which had about 0 single supplement. It was a great deal.

 

However, if I were to bid for an upgrade, I understand it would still for double occupancy, the fact that I had no supplement wouldn't make a difference.  Am I correct?

[Shippy]

The biggest problem with the bidding system is.......

     We had a mini suite on the Ruby. Successfully bid & got an upgrade to a Penthouse. Overall way cheaper than booking the Penthouse in the first place.

SPOILED...want the Penthouse but not at full price. Scared if I take a mini suite They will not offer me a bid for Penthouse !

    I know everyone should be ecstatic if they have a mini suite BUT the Penthouse is way over the top !

[Boatingmom]

Keeps telling me I'm not elligible